Co-rich and crack-free Mn-Co oxide coatings were deposited on AN 430 substrates by anodic electrodeposition from aqueous Solutions. The as-deposited Mn-Co oxide coatings, with nano-scale fibrous morphology and a metastable rock salt-type structure, evolved into a (Cr,Mn,CO)(3)O-4 spinel layer due to the outward diffusion of Cr from the AISI 430 substrates when pretreated in air. The Mn-Co oxide coatings were reduced into metallic Co and Mn3O4 Phases when annealed in a reducing atmosphere of 5% H-2-95% N-2. In contrast to the degraded oxidation resistance and electrical properties observed for the air-pretreated Mn-Co oxide coated samples, the H-2-pretreated Mn-Co oxide coatings not only acted as a protective barrier to reduce the Cr outward diffusion, but also improved the electrical performance of the steel interconnects. The improvement in electronic conductivity can be ascribed to the higher electronic conductivity of the Co-rich spinel layer and better adhesion of the scale to the steel substrate, thereby eliminating scale spallation. (c) 2008 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.